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Yates to take white jersey into final time trial at Giro d'Italia

Tour de France best young rider Adam Yates has survived a tough day to finish in seventh place on the penultimate stage of the Giro d’Italia today.

The 24-year-old crossed the line alongside white jersey threat Bob Jungels (Quickstep Floors) to maintain his 28second lead in the competition going into the final time trial.

Ahead, the battle for the overall podium continued with Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) taking the stage victory ahead of Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha-Alpecin) and Vincenzo Niabli (Bahrain-Merida).

“I wasn’t on a good day,” Yates admitted. “I was dropped with (Bauke) Mollema on the first climb. I just had bad legs.”

“We managed to bring it back together, but in the end there are just a few guys who are stronger at this year’s Tour.

“Realistically I needed to take more time on Bob today. We need to see tomorrow if I can hold on but I am realistic and it’s probably unlikely.”

How it happened:

With two stages remaining, everything was to play for as stage 19 tackled the final three climbs of the 2017 Giro d’Italia.

Six riders formed the early breakaway, but once again the main battle was on in the peloton.

Half way up the penultimate climb Katusha-Alpecin sent riders to the front and they immediately had an effect. The favourites group reduced to just ten riders with Yates losing contact. Fighting on, the 24-year-old was amongst a re-grouping five-kilometres later.

The GC group, with Yates, stayed together down the fast descent two-minutes behind two riders who had survived from the early breakaway.

At the foot of the final climb, Yates was joined by teammates Carlos Verona and Luka Mezgec who passed on a final supply of food and support.

Up the final climb the pace was on again. Nibali and Zakarin both tried their luck and the splits appeared as the breakaway remnants were swept up.

Yates lost touch alongside Jungels, Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) and Mollema on the final climb but the group fought on over the top in attempt for one final regrouping ahead of the line.

With six kilometres to go they were within ten seconds but the string broke and the time started to increase once again.

Eventually, Pinot won the stage with the Yates group finishing 15seconds adrift.